Regardless of whether they were the mightiest Grandmasters or the weakest individuals devoid of any True Qi, under the terrifying blade energy, they were smashed to pieces as easily as tofu. Blood sprayed forth incessantly like raindrops, shrouding the entire courtyard in a mist of gore. Countless fragments of flesh were scattered everywhere; in a mere moment, not a single intact corpse could be found within the courtyard...

Gazing upon the mangled remains, the white chunks of shredded meat, and the multi-colored viscera, Yao Rao’s stunningly beautiful face betrayed a flicker of surprise—perhaps compassion, or perhaps something else entirely...

As for Ye Jingyu, a faint smile perpetually graced his features, as if none of this turmoil concerned him in the slightest...

Perhaps he was cruel, perhaps he was bloody, but what did that matter? Even if he earned the title of Butcher, so what? These men were the Tianyuan Empire’s sharpest guards, the very core members of Miao City. If they had been left alive, the harm they could inflict upon the Xichu Empire or the Nanyun Empire once war broke out would have been immense.

Killing them was a simple exertion of effort. Since he could eliminate such a massive threat to the Nanyun Empire with such ease, why wouldn't he?

Furthermore, Ye Jingyu was certain that with the fall of the City Lord's Estate, the Xichu Empire would immediately march on Miao City, shattering the delicate balance of the Three Kingdoms. At that point, the Nanyun Empire could afford to watch the conflict between the other two nations before deciding its own military movements...

Ye Jingyu knew nothing of mercy when dealing with his enemies...

Paying no further heed to the shredded bodies on the ground, Ye Jingyu stepped forward. He appeared to be walking across the meat and gore, yet a strange force kept the blood and fragments separated. When Ye Jingyu finally crossed the courtyard, not a single drop of blood sullied his shoes...

Seeing Ye Jingyu stroll through such a gruesome scene as if taking an afternoon walk, a trace of curiosity flashed in Yao Rao’s eyes. What kind of man was he? If you called him brutal, he would rescue a stray girl with whom he had no prior connection; if you called him benevolent, he could casually slaughter hundreds. Just what kind of person was he?

Lacking Ye Jingyu’s overwhelming power, Yao Rao could only skirt around the bloody expanse, following him toward the Lily Courtyard...

Inside the Lily Courtyard at that moment, Xuan Yuan Ruohan, who had already been asleep, awoke to the immense commotion from ahead. She quickly dressed and stepped into her own courtyard. Just as she reached the main door, a figure clad in white appeared in the threshold. Even in the darkness, Xuan Yuan Ruohan recognized the man instantly...

The man she had yearned for day and night...

“Buyue...” Xuan Yuan Ruohan breathed out softly, her voice laced with longing, a touch of hope, and that faint hint of anxiety and guilt. Though she hadn't betrayed Huangfu Buyue, the entire incident had ultimately begun because of her, leaving her deeply remorseful...

“Ruohan...” Instead of the sharp questioning she expected, the reply that met her was Huangfu Buyue’s voice, thick with worry. Hearing this, all the anxiety that had plagued Xuan Yuan Ruohan these past few days vanished without a trace. Even without him saying much, she trusted him implicitly, just as she trusted him...

She moved to rush toward Huangfu Buyue, but two dark shadows abruptly shot out from the empty air...

They were Fang Qi and Fang Ba, left behind to guard her side. No matter how intense the fighting ahead, Fang Qi and Fang Ba had not budged an inch. Their mission was protection, but perhaps more importantly, supervision of Xuan Yuan Ruohan. After all, she was a woman coveted by their Young Master; how could they let another man claim her?

Now, seeing this white-robed man appear from thin air, they naturally moved to intercept, even while sensing that Huangfu Buyue’s aura was in no way weaker than their own...

“Leave, or die...” Perhaps from spending too much time with Fang Jiuyou, the two had adopted an air of arrogant presumption. Even knowing that Huangfu Buyue’s cultivation surpassed theirs, they spoke with cold finality...

“Heh heh, perhaps that is a line we should be saying to you?” At this moment, a figure suddenly emerged from the corner of the wall. Immediately after, a man with a deathly pale complexion appeared, accompanied by a similarly pale girl of about fifteen or sixteen...

It was none other than Liang Xiaoke and Gongsun Lu!

With their appearance, Luo Ling’er, draped in a white gauze dress, the tall-figured Hu Yanqi, the cold and stunningly beautiful Hu Yanmeng, and Bing Ming, whose entire form had melted into the black night, all revealed themselves...

To assassinate Fang Jiuyou, Ye Jingyu had summoned almost every powerhouse currently at his disposal...

Sensing the subtle, powerful auras emanating from the assembled group, the complexions of Fang Qi and Fang Ba shifted rapidly. How had so many people entered the courtyard without them noticing anything?

Just then, a series of crisp footsteps echoed again at the courtyard entrance. Following them, a fair-skinned man entered, leading an exquisitely beautiful woman. Judging by the powerful aura he deliberately projected, he was at least a powerhouse exceeding the Saint level...

One Soul Immortal, two Martial Saints, one whose strength likely surpassed the Martial Saint realm, two archers whose danger level was certainly equal to a Martial Saint despite not reaching that rank, and two figures who emitted absolutely no aura, not even a trace of life energy—faced with this lineup, despair flooded the faces of Fang Qi and Fang Ba...

This wasn't a rescue party; this was clearly an annihilation squad! Never mind the two of them, even their Young Master would be in a terrible fix here, wouldn't he?

“Go...” In that instant, the two made their decision. One lunged toward the nearest target, Xuan Yuan Ruohan, while the other bolted toward the weakest targets, Hu Yanqi and Hu Yanmeng...

Even in retreat, they intended to carry away the women their Young Master desired...

“Now, even trying to leave will be difficult for you...” Ye Jingyu snorted coldly, unleashing the Heavenly Punishment Palm strike directly. Simultaneously, Huangfu Buyue, Bing Ming, Hu Yanmeng, Hu Yanqi, Luo Ling’er, and even Liang Xiaoke and Gongsun Lu all unleashed their ultimate techniques...

Fist energy, sword qi, ice arrows, feather darts, mental power attacks, palm winds, Azure Wood Divine Lightning—every attack converged upon the two men...

Feeling the terrifying force erupting from all directions, the True Essence in their bodies cycled madly. But before they could take a single step, they were struck by the immense pressure of the Heavenly Punishment Palm. Immediately following, the others' attacks rained down upon them. Despite reaching the Martial Saint realm, both were instantly pulverized into dust.